Now a knit blog!

Muwahahahaha! While you have been unable to sew and post, this blog has been boarded by pirates and is now a knit blog! Except I don't have any cats so I can't be a true knitblogger.

As you may be aware, I'm making 'Calista's Alexander McQueen knock-off sweater'. This is my progress so far. (I'm not putting the flowers on by the way). Needs a ruddy good blocking. I have done the ribbing on the second bodice piece, and there's still a long slog to go, so plenty of time to think about blocking.

On a bit of a knitting jag, must be the cooler weather. Although it has been very warm the last few days, I know it's just foxing and I will be unable to leave the house in a frock for months soon.

Cracklin' Rosie

Done! Rosie, using Dogwood Donna from spring Knitscene magazine with my own modifications. I used Cleckheaton 12 ply (I know. Cleckheaton. But I was desperate to knit and it was the only light grey in the approximate gauge. It is not too scratchy to wear, for which I am thankful.)
The rose is duplicate stitched from a chart in Vogue Knitting International's most recent winter issue.
I didn't do the ribbed neckline on this version, I thought I'd try single crochet edging, and I liked it! That saved the hassle of picking up stitches and having a higher and potentially-horribly-scratchy-on-my-neck-ribbed-crew-neck.
Yay, much quicker too, so I can wear it out tonight!
(Oh and I have woven in all the ends. Those are the woody stems of my chilean jasmine coming out of my left armpit.)

shpotty

How much do I like simple patterns? A whole lot, so for your delictation I present an easy pattern:


And how cute is she? Black and white coin spot cotton from Spotlight, with some of the cute elastic ruffle trim from the Vietnamese shop on Smith St (how I love you, supplier of trims). Super easy and mighty cute.

There is no zip, and I left out the back tie, as I will wear her with a wide belt, or my underbust corset (which is what I made her for - mine is plain black though)
or a pinafore.

Flippy

I had a longing for a skirt with some back interest. I found a pattern.

I bought some satin-backed crepe, but not enough. I have a stash. It all came together (that satin-backed crepe will have to live life as something else).

It's not easy to convey back interest in a photo, especially when you are taking it yourself with the camera balanced on an ironing board...

Dresscode: Denim

...and yet still I manage to dress to the nines.
Empire line dress with sash, from vintage McCall's pattern, in stretch black denim. This was a muslin for a grey stretch wool version, but does the story need re-telling? I'm imagining it as a super dressy frock to wear to a wedding or formal occasion in chocolate stretch silk perhaps?

Not copying you, not at all...

It's smaller leopard print for a start. And it has a sash. It's not the same!

Oh well, maybe it is. I like the sash, it gives it a certain sofisty-kashun.

2B pencil

A bit difficult to tell, but this is a different pencil/straight skirt in a wool/poly/elastane blend in a dark charcoal-y colour. Drapes very nicely indeed. I put in an invisible zipper using this tutorial. Not absolutely perfect, but the main issssew was not being able to press the zipper teeth and tape properly flat, they kept popping up again making it a bit time consuming.

Good old new look 6843. View B, no slit this time.

The green wiggle

Seem sort of familiar? Hmmm?

But they're not the same! I kept the sweetheart neckline! I think I prefer your V neck though. She is very comfortable what with the stretch and all.

I really should come up with some more dynamic poses.

Catherine Deneuve, ca 1967

I wish! I'm happy with the buttons and she is much more glam when worn with fishnets and high boots, as I did this evening.

Made using this McCalls pattern. Size 8 worked well, it's still big enough to wear over a frock as a coat.

It made me do it!

I just couldn't resist the fabric any longer, so I bought it on Friday and made it on Saturday, using Vogue 9668 (AKA Frenchy and Sweetie and Spinout) but made it a v-neck instead of a sweetheart.

BTW, she is a stretch woven. Did I mention I rather like stretch wovens? ...and a demonstration of the difference between Jane and I, as worn on my dinner date on Wednesday night.

I bought 2.5 and have heeeps left (1.2m! I always forget how very economical this pattern is).
I could:
a) get some emerald satin and make a wrap
b) make it into an overskirt for when I feel like a full-skirted frock (and also wear that as a separate skirt)
c) make a little jackety-capey thingy
or
d) make something completely different out of it.

I think I might need the pink next. Oh, and some of the other prints in the same range are quait naice too...

I'm now off with a mission: to fill at least one garbage bag with clothes to take to the oppie. The seven pairs of shoes the other weekend made me feel so very virtuous!

Saucy Secretary after hours

For those after-work cocktail dates, just add dress clips and a cunning hat, with maybe a beaded cardigan, and you are all ready to go!

ah, that's better, and, windy!

Dotty went on a diet and lost some bulk. I love her now and I'm going to get a lot more wear out of her

Here is leppo, so silky! and windswept! Maggy London frock again.
Hooray for new and renovated frocks.